Colorado State University’s environmental science and engineering research programs have been ranked No. 7 worldwide by the Academic Ranking of World Universities.

The ranking appears in the organization’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

CSU’s environmental engineering program is part of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The program is based in a strong foundation of natural sciences, math, biology and engineering fundamentals. Environmental engineers, according to the degree program’s website, monitor the quality of air, water and land, and develop the means to protect the environment. They provide safe drinking water, treat and properly dispose of waste, maintain air quality, control water pollution and remediate contamination.

The ranking includes all sub-categories of environmental science and engineering. CSU’s Department of Atmospheric Science offers many programs in environmental science, with coursework ranging from the physical basis of climate change to air pollution measurement. Research areas include cloud microphysics, mesoscale meteorology, atmospheric chemistry and air quality.

First published in 2009, the subject-specific rankings are conducted by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and are published by the ShanghaiRanking Consultancy.

Indicators used in the rankings include: measures of research productivity; average global research impact; extent of international collaboration; extent of academic-corporate collaboration; researchers with global academic influences; and academic awards.